Busy with a demanding job, kids or both? Trying to juggle doing it all, while feeling and looking your best? One hour workouts, plus travel, who has that time each day? If you take $30 classes 5 times a week, you’ll dish out nearly $8k each year. We love classes too, but mixing it up saves you time, money, and mental fatigue. We sampled over 50 different online workout videos and DVD’s throughout the years and compiled our favorites.
From working 80 hour weeks while trying to squeeze in workouts, staying fit during pregnancy, getting my body back post pregnancy and beyond, I learned that even 30 minutes a day of activity can do wonders for your mood and waistline.
It takes a bit of self-discipline to workout at home, but we challenge you to try it and see what happens! It helps to vary your workouts weekly, or based on your mood. Set a time on your calendar (plan ahead) and hold yourself accountable to it. A weekly regimen may include: toning and sculpting, pilates or yoga, cardio or dance plus some brief meditation.
Here are my favorite workouts to help you along your wellness journey. Thanks to the Internet, many of the below are available online for a small streaming fee or membership fee. Some are DVDs and others are available via download from websites. Many are available in our Embody Boutique!
Type Workout Features/Benefits
| Tone/Sculpt (some cardio)(pre and post natal options) | Tracy Anderson Method “Mat Workout”,“Metamorphosis” “Pregnancy Project”“Post Pregnancy 2” |
“Mat Workout”: DVD you can’t go wrong with. Total body sculp. Period. “Metamorphosis”: customized DVD set based on YOUR body type and specific targeting needs. “Pregnancy Project”: 1 DVD per month of your pregnancy. Excellent to keep you fit and safe throughout your pregnancy. “Post Pregnancy 2”: It’s HARD but helped get rid of my “muffin top”. |
| Tone/Sculpt (some cardio)(pre and post natal options) | Physique 57 Online Workouts and DVD’s—All of them are great! | I’ve tried all of their online workouts for ~$5 per rental (48 hr. rental period) and recommend them depending on what you want to tone. Favorites:“Cardio Blast” and “Physique 57 30 Minute Express”. They have over 10 DVD’s too. |
| Tone/Sculpt(pre and post natal options) | Barre 3 Online Classes “Barre3 Total Body Lift “ Workout DVD |
Various online subscription plans starting at $15/month. Love their 10-minute workouts and their “Ballet Body Blast” 40 minute workout. |
| Meditation and Yoga(pre and post natal options) | Yogaglo.com So much gratitude for this site! HIGHLY recommend. |
$15/month for unlimited yoga/mediation. Filter by teacher, style, level and duration (brilliant!). Keep your daily yoga practice with just 10 minutes a day! Many teachers are great but I especially suggest Elena Brower. Her brief meditations are blissful, sweet and profound. Here are two of my favorites: Parents should try “Meditation for Stressed Parents” 20 minutes helps me re-gain perspective. Or try “Yoga Nidra For A Sweet Release” a 10 minute calming ritual before bed. |
| Yoga | “Jivamukti Yoga” App (myyogaminute.com) | Jivamukti style classes with the convenience of your mobile phone or ipad. |
| Yoga | Transform Yourself With Jivamukti Yoga DVD | Energizing hour long practice. When I’m short on time, I do the first 30 minutes or I’ll check out the face massaging section at the end to get my glow on! |
| Pilates/Core(pre and post natal options) | Pilatesanytime.com | $18/month unlimited pilates. Classes for all levels with various durations. |
| Tone/Sculpt/Strength/Cardio | PIYO 10 30-Minute Workouts DVD Seriesby Beachbody | Great variety, challenge and integration of yoga/pilates and strength training. I noticed results when sticking to their workout calendar while also eating clean. |
| Tone/Sculpt/Strength/Cardio | PX90 X3 16 30-Minute Workouts DVD Series by Beachbody | I love the variety of these workouts. 30 minutes each: More extreme and intense then PIYO. I noticed greatest results by doing a hybrid PIYO/PX90X3 three month program PLUS eating clean. |
| Tone/Sculpt/Strength/Cardio | Jillian Michaels: “30 Day Shred and Ripped in 30 Days” | Intense, targeted and effective. |
What is your favorite at home workout? Share it with us and we will try it with you! Write to us or leave a comment below and inspire the EMBODY Wellness Community!
With Love and Gratitude,
Christine & Stephanie
Embody Wellness. Embody Change. Embody Your Best Self.
